Reef McIntosh Wins The Da Hui Backdoor Shootout

Volcom won the team portion of the event and will be back next year to retain their throne. Photo: photobrent/SPL

After hearing the news that Reef McIntosh had won the 2012 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout we hit the coconut wireless to track him down. Turns out he’d never won a contest of any sort before…

TransWorld SURF: 2012 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout winner Reef McIntosh!

Reef McIntosh: I can’t really believe it; I don’t know what to say!

So the contest finished yesterday but they held off on announcing the results until this morning?

We surfed a half-day yesterday and today was like, “conditions permitting” whether or not it was gonna go again. I don’t really know how the permit and logistics work but when this morning came it was kinda small and there were some bad winds predicted for later in the day. We might have been able to run a half-day, and I might have dodged a bullet. It was super stressful not knowing if I won or not, I’ve never been in a situation like that.

Yeah I was arguing with Kelly Slater on Twitter this morning, he was like, “Reef won!” and I said, “Not yet, pal.” Turned out he was right.

People were telling me that I won yesterday but I was like, “No. I’m not going to believe that until the check is in my hands or Eddie [Rothman] tells me ‘It’s over.’” I couldn’t even sleep last night.

When was the last time you won a contest?

I’ve never won a contest [laughs].

What boards were you riding through the event?

I rode a brand new 7’2” Arakawa the whole time. I might just put that board on ice now.

What’s it like surfing in contest with basically the same guys you surf with everyday?

It would have been gnarly to be in a heat with like Jamie, Makua, or Bruce. Shit, everyone’s gnarly but I liked the guys I had in my heat; Cheyne Magnusson, Barca, and Makai McNamara. Those guys aren’t super frothers but like to get good waves—it was just a fun atmosphere. You know if you’re in a heat with Bruce or Jamie it’s serious, it’s like game time, we’re not talking about the Chargers like me and Cheyne Mags were.

Were you wearing your SD Charger boardies?

The whole event! I was rotating between the home and away colors.

All those years you put in finally paid off—to the tune of $30,000!

30Gs is awesome but I’m just stoked to win something, especially the Shootout. I’m so stoked to have my name alongside Johnny Boy Gomes, Kelly, John John, and Jamie O’Brien.

Shout outs?

I could stay on the phone all day thanking people, but I’ll start with Eddie Rothman and Da Hui for putting the event on, the Water Patrol, Faith from ASP Hawaii, Quiksilver for getting a team into the event, everyone in the event, my fiancée Jessica, my Dad…